Top Stories

Americans Abroad: Weekend Rewind

FUSSBALL - BL, Rapid vs Wacker

By FRANCO PANIZO

Easter Weekend was kind to the Americans Abroad contingent.

Several players delivered strong performances this past weekend, including Rapid Vienna striker Terrence Boyd. Boyd bagged a brace in the club’s 2-2 draw vs. SV Grodig on Sunday, scoring his first goal in the 24th minute before converting a penalty kick that he drew late in the first half. The two-goal outing ended a scoring drought for the 23-year-old Boyd that dated back to March 2, and gave him 16 in all competitions this season.

Alejandro Bedoya was another player to find the back of the net, giving the veteran midfielder two goals in the month of April. Bedoya scored for the second time in three games on Sunday, netting FC Nantes’ second tally in a 6-2 road rout of Valenciennes. Bedoya’s well-taken effort, which came following a skipping pass that was trickier than it initially looked, gave him five goals in Ligue 1 and six across all competitions.

Tim Howard and Jozy Altidore also enjoyed good weekends. Howard made two saves as Everton kept their UEFA Champions League dreams alive with a 2-0 victory over Manchester United on Sunday, and Altidore came off the bench and drew the penalty kick that gave Sunderland a surprise 2-1 win over Chelsea on Saturday.

Here is how the Americans Abroad did this weekend:

ENGLAND

Premiership

  • Tim Howard started, played 90 minutes and made two saves in Everton’s 2-0 win vs. Manchester United on Sunday.
  • Jozy Altidore came off the bench, played 24 minutes and drew a penalty kick in Sunderland’s 2-1 win vs. Chelsea on Saturday.
  • Geoff Cameron started and played 90 minutes in Stoke City’s 1-1 draw vs. Cardiff City on Saturday.
  • Brek Shea did not dress for Stoke City.
  • Brad Guzan started, played 90 minutes and made two saves in Aston Villa’s 0-0 draw vs. Southampton on Saturday.
  • Brad Friedel dressed but did not play in Tottenham Hotspur’s 3-1 win vs. Fulham on Saturday.
  • Cody Cropper did not dress in Southampton’s 0-0 draw vs. Aston Villa on Saturday.
  • Sebastian Lletget did not dress in West Ham United’s 1-0 loss vs. Crystal Palace on Saturday.

CHAMPIONSHIP

  • Oguchi Onyewu started and played 90 minutes in Sheffield Wednesday’s 4-2 win vs. AFC Bournemouth on Friday. Onyewu and Sheffield Wednesday play Charlton Athletic on Monday.
  • Danny Williams started, played 55 minutes and received a yellow card in Reading’s 3-0 loss vs. Wigan Athletic on Friday.
  • Duane Holmes dressed but did not play in Huddersfield Town’s 1-1 draw vs. Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday. Holmes and Huddersfield Town play Yeovil Town on Monday.
  • Jonathan Spector started and played 90 minutes in Birmingham City’s 1-0 loss vs. Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Spector and Birmingham City play Blackburn Rovers on Monday.
  • Will Packwood dressed but did not play for Birmingham City. Packwood and Birmingham City play Blackburn Rovers on Monday.
  • Tim Ream started and played 90 minutes in Bolton Wanderers’ 0-0 draw vs. Charlton Athletic on Friday.
  • Stuart Holden did not dress for Bolton. He is recovering from a knee injury.
  • Eric Lichaj did not dress in Nottingham Forest’s 1-0 win vs. Birmingham City on Saturday. He is recovering from a groin injury. Nottingham Forest play Leeds United on Monday.
  • Zak Whitbread dressed but did not play in Derby County’s 2-0 win vs. Doncaster Rovers on Friday. Whitbread and Derby County play Barnsley on Monday.

League One

  • Gboly Ariyibi did not dress in Tranmere Rovers’ 2-0 loss vs. Gillingham on Friday. Ariyibi and Tranmere Rovers play Sheffield United on Monday.

GERMANY

Bundesliga

  • Fabian Johnson started and played 90 minutes in TSG 1899 Hoffenheim’s 3-1 loss vs. Werder Bremen on Saturday.
  • Joe Gyau dressed but did not play for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
  • John Brooks started and played 90 minutes in Hertha Berlin’s 0-0 draw vs. FC Augsburg on Saturday.
  • Timmy Chandler did not dress in FC Nurberg’s 4-1 loss vs. Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday.
  • David Yelldell dressed but did not play in Bayer Leverkusen’s 4-1 win vs. FC Nurnberg on Sunday.

Bundesliga 2

  • Alfredo Morales started and played 90 minutes in FC Ingolstadt 04’s 0-0 draw vs. VfR Aalen on Sunday.
  • Bobby Wood came off the bench and played 45 minutes in TSV 1860 Munich’s 2-1 win vs. Arminia Bielefeld on Saturday.
  • Andrew Wooten started, played 90 minutes and scored a GOAL in FSV Frankfurt’s 3-2 loss vs. FSV Kaiserslautern on Sunday.

FRANCE

  • Alejandro Bedoya started, played 90 minutes and scored a GOAL in FC Nantes’ 6-2 win vs. Valenciennes on Sunday.

//cdn.playwire.com/bolt/js/embed.min.js

NETHERLANDS

  • Aron Johannsson and AZ Alkmaar did not play this weekend.
  • Juan Agudelo and FC Utrecht did not play this weekend.

TURKEY

  • Jermaine Jones started, played 90 minutes and received a yellow card in Besiktas’ 1-1 draw vs. Fenerbahce on Sunday.

BELGIUM

  • Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play Racing Genk in the Pro League playoff on Monday.

DENMARK

  • Conor O’Brien dressed but did not play in Odense BK’s 1-0 loss vs. FC Vestsjaelland on Sunday.
  • Babajide Ogunbiyi and Viborg FF play FC Midtjylland on Monday.

NORWAY

  • Mix Diskerud and Rosenborg BK play FK Bodo/Glimt on Monday.
  • Ethan Horvath and Molde FK play Sarpsborg 08 on Monday.
  • Josh Gatt and Molde FK play Sarpsborg 08 on Monday.
  • Zarek Valentin did not dress in FK Bodo/Glimt play Rosenborg BK on Monday.
  • Michael Stephens and Stabaek IF play Odd on Monday.

AUSTRIA

  • Terrence Boyd started, played 90 minutes and scored TWO GOALS in Rapid Vienna’s 2-2 draw vs. SV Grodig on Sunday.

MEXICO

  • DaMarcus Beasley started and played 40 minutes before coming off with an injury in Puebla’s 2-1 win vs. Pachuca on Saturday.
  • Michael Orozco did not dress for Puebla. He is recovering from a hamstring injury.
  • Jose Torres started and played 90 minutes in Tigres UANL’s 3-1 loss vs. Club Leon on Saturday.
  • Jonathan Bornstein did not dress in Atlante’s 2-1 loss vs. Club Tijuana on Sunday.
  • Edgar Castillo started and played 90 minutes in Club Tijuana’s 2-1 win vs. Atlante on Sunday.
  • Herculez Gomez  came off the bench and played 30 minutes for Club Tijuana.
  • Joe Corona came off the bench and played seven minutes for Club Tijuana.
  • Greg Garza dressed but did not play for Club Tijuana.
  • Paul Arriola dressed but did not play for Club Tijuana.
  • Alejandro Guido  did not dress for Club Tijuana.
  • Fernando Arce Jr did not dress for Club Tijuana.
  • Joaquin Alonso Hernandez did not dress in Monterrey’s 4-1 win vs. Veracruz on Saturday.
  • Gabriel Farfan did not dress in Jaguares de Chiapas’ 3-2 win vs. Santos Laguna on Saturday.
  • Michael Farfan dressed but did not play in Cruz Azul’s 5-1 loss vs. Morelia on Friday.
  • Dennis Flores dressed but did not play in Club Leon’s 3-1 win vs. Tigres UANL on Saturday.
  • Miguel Palafox did not dress for Club Leon.

—–

What do you think of these performances? Did Boyd’s performance all but pencil him in for a place in Brazil this summer? Do you see Bedoya making the U.S. Men’s National Team’s World Cup roster? Think Altidore is set for a strong finish to the campaign?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. good for Boyd, he needed to score and remind everyone why JK rates him so high. him and Jozy are the only two Americans to score 15+ goals in back to back seasons in Europe.

    Bedoya continues to get it done. IMO, he has overtaken Zusi for starting at RM. sure, he could play Dempsey’s role, but we know JK isn’t going to do that. he likes Bedoya at RM and Bedoya’s work rate make him perfect for it. i’d start him at RM, Donovan at LM, with Dempsey in his usual role (assuming JK sticks with the 4-2-3-1).

    Reply
  2. If you take away Penalties, Boyd and Johannsson’s numbers really aren’t all that different this season, Boyd with 9 league goals, 4 in Europa and Johannsson with 13 league goals, just 1 in Europa (before the group stage). Not a big difference between them really when most would consider Johannsson with 14 a lock and Boyd at 13 on the bubble.

    Reply
    • My gut reaction is to say Holland is a better league, but after watching highlights, it sort of looks like a goal scorers paradise. It might in fact be harder to score in Austria. With that said, iceman has looked pretty lethal it limited appearances for the Nats. Boyd hasn’t gotten the minutes to make a statement eitherway.

      Reply
  3. Interesting weekend.
    Looks like Ream will be in May camp.
    Chandler didn’t dress weeks away from camp–doesn’t look good.
    Not only Beasley but Orozco’s injured.
    Very nerve-wracking development in the back line.
    Of the four CBs, I’d say Besler is best, then Goodson. Brooks and Gonzo a toss-up.

    Reply
    • sorry, but I have a hard time seeing Brooks make the may camp roster when you have Onyewu dominating week in and out and also considering the way Ream has been playing I think we see him there too! It will be very interesting these next 4 weeks to say the least!

      Reply
    • Chandler was aiming for the game coming up this weekend. so nothing to read into with him not dressing over the past weekend.

      Reply
  4. Me and two friends will be in Brazil for the World Cup in Porto Alegre, Sao Paulo, and Rio. If anyone else will be there, we’d love to meet up and watch USA play. Unfortunately, we didn’t get tickets to their matches

    Reply
      • If both are playing well Zusi is more likely to score or assist than is Bedoya.

        Bedoya is a better looking player, more exciting to watch, but Zusi seems to be better at actually producing end product, i.e goals, for the US.

      • i certainly respect your opinion, but i don’t buy into Zusi being more capable of scoring or assisting. i’m not denying Zusi has been more effective for the US, he absolutely has. but Bedoya has not been in this kind of form in a top league like France since his first cap.

        i’m not sure which player i like more. probably Zusi simply because sometimes the way Bedoya talks annoys me. so Jersey. but i could see him starting over Zusi for sure. both are in good form though, so either way i’ll be happy.

      • Well both have been pros for 6 seasons.

        Both have 20 goals.

        Ale has one goal for the US and Zusi has three.

        I rate both about equal and I don’t think Ale’s form for Nantes has a lot to do with it other than its good that he is in form.

        He’s not going to be used by JK like Nantes uses him so it’s back to basics.

        I have no problem with that because, like most of the USMNT players, Bedoya is a good player, not a game changing player, not a guy who Germany, Ghana or Portugal are going to say:

        ” Thank god they were stupid enough to play Zusi instead of that monster Ale Bedoya, those foolish Americans!”

        JK seems to have a great deal of confidence in Zusi and when two players are that close, that sort of thing matters.

    • I think its funny that people assume that Bedoya is behind Zusi right now in depth. JK states regularly that europe is where his players should be proving themselves, and that is exactly what Bedoya is doing. Bedoya is in top form right now, and has a higher work rate than Zusi. I think they both see plenty of time in Brazil, but if its me, Bedoya gets the first start.

      Reply
      • Can you get both on the field? Bedoya is playing in underneath the striker for Nantes now, in that role we usually see Dempsey play for the national team. Zusi I believe gives you the better service from the right. Even once we get the roster of 23 we’re going to have no idea how this puzzle fits together with so many players who play such a range of positions.

      • Also then where does Diskerud fit? If you have Dempsey, now Bedoya, and Donovan who all can and like to play that position. Then is Diskerud a real option deeper in the central midfield?

      • Bedoya’s “natural” position, the one he prefers is in central midfield. It is where he played when he had his break out year in Sweden with Orebro.

        The wing position was initiated by BB when he used Ale to replace Donovan. From what I have seen it is his best position but he is not replacing Clint.

      • I was of the impression the Bedoya has been playing on the right for Nantes, though I could easily be mistaken. (that is where JK generally plays him.) I know Bedoya has played centrally in the past however, and think that using him that way again might be a great idea. Dempsey, though in great form right now, is a player who probably won’t be effective for the full 90 every game. I see Mixx being brought in if we are lacking possession and creativity in the final third. Bedoya or Donovan (assuming improved fitness for Donovan) come on if we’re looking to bring more pace and stretch the field.

      • To get the most talent on the field at once, it would be ideal if Bedoya or Donovan could play effectively at LW, and Fab J took over LB. I don’t like putting guys too far out of their preferred positions, but frankly Fabian is the only bright spot on a very weak left side, and his potential back ups are not up to snuff. Also D-Beas currently has an unspecified (to my knowledge) injury.

      • I like that idea because if you have service coming from the right with Zusi, then Dempsey and Bedoya making runs into the box, could be very dangerous.

      • i agree. Bedoya has surpassed Zusi for starting at RM. either way, those two are going to give each other good battles in the May camp.

      • I think Zusi will start most games at RM. Then Bedoya will come in as a 65/70 minute second half sub.

        I like the idea of Donovan starting at LM and FJ at LB

    • i think he has to be with LD starting on the other wing….AB’s tenacity on both sides of the ball is impressive and in my opinion he’s better technically than say Zusi! I think he starts and has even when they’ve both appeared on the same roster for JK! I’d feel fine if either started though

      Reply
  5. Jermaine Jones will miss next week, due to yellow card suspension. That’s 4 in just 6 starts for Beskitas.

    However it should be noted he did manager to not pick up a second yellow today. After receiving his first just 7 minutes in to a match, that saw 10 yellows and 2 players sent off.

    Reply
      • This is so true i honestly wouldn’t be surprised if he has the lowest ratio of red cards to yellow cards in the history of the world. Some needs to do some football stat research on this. my guess- from wiki 336 total appearances – would not be shocked if he had yellow in say 65% of games. So 218 yellows, think three reds his whole career. 73-1 my rough guess.

      • Soccerway: Since 2005, 241 career starts, 102 yellows, 6 times he’s got a second yellow and only one straight red.

      • Wow only 2 red cards? Ever? That’s fairly amazing. He gave Schalke a lot of grit which they kinda need. That team can be really soft.

      • Well 7 reds total, 6 times coming from 2 yellows in a match, once a straight red. Still considering his reputation it’s less then a lot of people would probably guess.

      • In spite of his reputation on SBI, Jones is not the bumbling moron you all seem to think he is.

        He has had a very distinguished career and I’ve noticed he tends to show well in important games when the USMNT really needs him.

      • well, i certainly don’t think he’s a bumbling moron, but i am worried that his penchant for getting yellow cards could easily hurt us in tournament play.

        with the teams we’re playing, i wouldn’t be surprised at all if he got two yellows in the first two matches and was suspended for the third.

        it’s not enough that i don’t think he should start, but it’s annoying that you have to take one of our supposedly best players and consider him to be in card trouble before the tournament even begins.

      • Jones does what all good defensive mids do, he tackles hard and fouls to prevent nascent scoring opportunities before the can come to fruition. That does lead to lots of yellow cards. The player who played that role for the US in 2002 was Mastroeni who was no stranger to yellow cards.

        My worry about Jones is that he may not be eligible latter in the WC due to card accumulation, so the US better have a good second choice.

    • I think we should give him another look especially with how Omar has been playing. His history though was filled with awful mistakes, but Omar has had more than enough chances. That is very well our weakest spot on the team is the other CB spot.

      Reply
      • I agree, and while Ream did make some mistakes, its been a while since his last appearance and he’s only gotten better.

      • Also, doesn’t ream play similar to besler? I wanna see this as the backline Fab J—Goodson—-Cameron—Chandler against azerbaijan

      • Ream’s been playing both left back and center back this season. Could be a versatile defensive option like Parkhurst.

      • Spencer,

        This may shock you but some players actually learn from their mistakes and get better.

        If the USMNT is to be limited to players who never make dumb mistakes leading to opposition goals.then , just off the top of my head, Cameron, Gonzo, Besler and Howard won’t be in Brazil.

      • Ream should be in competition for our LB position not CB. We can let Goodson, Besler, Omar, Gooch and Brooks fight over that.

    • Yes, he is slow, makes idiotic decisions, and is not particularly strong in the air.

      Chandler – Cameron – Besler – Johnson

      Reply
      • Ream made one high profile howler in the gold cup. This has led to this “common knowledge” that he’s terrible and gaffe prone. Not true. He is a fantastic passer with great vision, the best distributor in the us back line, no question. He is not fast, or he wasn’t. And he is definitely not fearsome. (He’s no vidic, that’s for sure.) But the idea that he’s a joke is just comment-board blather.

    • Yes. Calm-on-the-ball Ream might be a decent player but hasn’t been terribly impressive (or exactly calm on the ball) when he plays for the NATS. That said, I’d rather give him another look given how frequently Omar falls asleep.

      Reply
      • Its not about being fast it’s about playing fast and the English game is a very fast pace game especially in the second division. Robbie Findley was very fast but we all know how well that went for him

    • MLS.com : “Beasley struggled as early as the eighth minute and was taken off in the 40th, with Puebla leading 1-0. ”

      Sounds like he tried to play through it but couldn’t continue, making me think perhaps it’s not too serious.

      Reply
  6. Thank you John for posting these little tidbits. It’s helpful for those of us who only have time some weeks to come to SBI to gather a summary of the weekends performances.

    Reply
  7. On Spector from Birmingham Mail : Blues went a goal down after just 97 seconds at Forest when Jonathan Spector, one of Blues more experienced and usually reliable players, played a pass into no man’s land, which resulted in Matt Derbyshire going through to net.

    Reply
  8. The Bolton News had Tim Ream as there highest rated players and wrote this “Tim Ream Calm, composed and very, very solid, the American defender is heading into a World Cup summer in the best form of his Wanderers career.”

    Reply
    • I remember when Ream and Gonzalez were the regarded as the Future CB’s for the USMNT. Then panama came and broke ream during the Gold Cup a couple years back.

      Reply

Leave a Comment